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I would have never thought to ask if Charleboi has water but I ran across a Facebook post in the last couple of days that says (and quotes) an REI trip scout as saying there is no water at Charleboi since the fire nor second water. I could potentially see the fire and erosion affecting second water so maybe it doesn’t cross by the trail anymore (although I doubt it affected the source but so many people don’t want to work a little for some water…). I just can’t see, especially with the fire border and pictures I’ve seen, it affecting Charleboi in any big way though. The Facebook comment said REI has cancelled their guided supes trips in the area this year because of it which is the only reason I give it any credibility (those trips cost a dumb amount of easy money so why would they give it up?).

I see no recent water reports but know not everyone always posts those.

@xsproutx
I am a skeptic.

It would be more believable if the pool was fouled by a dead animal, compared to dry. (Just speculation, I have no direct knowledge of its current condition.)

Same. It’s a jungle back there so it surprised me but REI charges thousands for these trips so that gives me/gave me a bit of pause. Thinking it’s the normal types who don’t put much effort into exploring/call something dry if it’s not crystal clear blue water. Guess I’ll just have to give it a go in the next week or two; worst case is La Barge but yeh, can’t see Charleboi being dry.

REI still has trips planned for late Dec/early Jan. The itinerary is a lot of flowery word salad, but it seems like the excursion may go past Charlebois. I’m wondering if they cancelled some trips during the fire closure, maybe not knowing when it would reopen and were being overly cautious.

Depending on the high-priced itineraries, it's possible that they just didn't want to drag customers through recently burned terrain, knowing that they would probably get complaints about the drab scenery.

Give it a couple of winter months and there should at least be some ground sprouts that looks different from ashy moonscape.

PS: By default, you should ignore any reports you read on facebook. (There was this one time that I read about West Fork being absolutely torched..., among many others)

this is doubtful but I haven't been this deep from 1st Water TH yet. Trail ran the Black Mesa loop the other day and the fire doesn't appear to go too much farther than the trail up Bull Pass. Black Mesa itself and Garden Valley are absolutely torched though

Generally agree on the Facebook stuff but it looked like a direct quote from a person REI uses to scout before trips sounds like I’m not being done in my…skepiticness… though

chumley wrote:By default, you should ignore any reports you read on facebook. (

@xsproutx
A little late to the game, but there was definitely water at Charlebois in November. Maybe their scouts didn't know the water isn't right on Dutchman Trail?

xsproutx wrote:REI has cancelled their guided supes trips in the area this year

Well perhaps there was more to this than some alleged lack of water in the Stits. A post in another thread reveals that REI canceled all their trips, and shuttered their trip business entirely. Effective immediately.

@chumley
Let go a bunch of people, too. I don't think very many of them saw it coming.

Interesting. They’ve obviously not been doing as well as they would like recently (obviously the new CMOs fault) so this would appear a “get back to roots” move I guess.
Good to know reliable water is still reliable